Ranunculus plant named ‘ROCORANGE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ROCORANGE’ is disclosed, characterized by cold-hardy plants producing multiple bright orange, semi-double flowers per stem. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , useful as an ornamental plant or for cut flower production.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus cortusifolius xasiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ROCORANGE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, John Fielding in London, United Kingdom athis home garden. The objective was to produce varieties that are gardenhardy in zone 8, and suitable for cut flower or garden uses. The crossresulting in this new variety was made in April of 2004.

The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented variety of Ranunculuscortusifolius. The pollen parent is an unnamed, unpatented variety ofRanunculus asiaticus. The new variety was discovered in April 2009 bythe inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing,in London, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by divisionof tubers in July 2009 at the inventor's home garden. The uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in morethan 10 successive generations. Date of first sale of the new cultivarwas Oct. 1, 2018, in the Netherlands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ROCORANGE’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ROCORANGE’ as a new and distinct Ranunculuscultivar:

-   1. Garden hardy in USDA Zone 7 or 8, observed to survive −15°    Celsius in garden trials.-   2. Can be used for cut flower or garden uses.-   3. Cut flower will last in water for 12 to 14 days, with all flowers    opening.-   4. Branched stems with multiple flowers per stem.-   5. Bright orange flower color.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ differ in the following:

-   1. The seed parent is taller than the new variety.-   2. Flowers of the new variety are bright orange, while the seed    parent's flowers are golden yellow.-   3. The seed parent has 5 petals per flower, while the new variety    has typically more than 50 petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ differ in the following:

-   1. The pollen parent is shorter than the new variety.-   2. The pollen parent is less winter hardy than the new variety.-   3. The pollen parent has fewer flowers per stem than the new    variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCORANGE’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ranunculus ‘Elegance Orange’. The two Ranunculusvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘ROCORANGE’ differs in the following:

-   1. Vegetative carriage, foliage occurs lower on plants of the new    variety.-   2. Flower color of the new variety is a darker orange.-   3. Vase life of flowers of the new variety is longer than that of    this comparator.-   4. The new variety is tolerant of more cold temperatures than this    comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full colorflowering plants of the new variety at approximately 1 year old, grownoutdoors.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe 18-month-old ‘ROCORANGE’ plantsgrown in a vented, unheated polytunnel in London, United Kingdom. Nochemical treatments were performed. The growing temperature ranged from5° C. to 25° C. during the day and from −5° C. to 10° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus cortusifolius x asiaticus    ‘ROCORANGE’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Tissue culture.-   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-15° C.-   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days.

PLANT

-   Root description: Secondary roots grow from the tuber and are    fasciculate.-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust, semi-erect.-   Height to top flower: Average 65 cm.-   Plant spread: Average 40 cm.-   Growth rate: Medium to strong.-   Branching characteristics: Branched panicle.-   Length of lateral branches: Average range 14 to 25 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.3 to 0.5 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Glossy, slightly tomentose.-   Internode length: Very close, forming basal rosette.-   Strength of lateral branches: Medium.-   Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.-   Aspect/angle of branches: 30° from vertical.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

-   Basal leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Young Leaf: Trifoliate. Mature Leaf: Biternate.        -   Average length.—18 to 30 cm.        -   Average width.—12 to 15 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Young Leaf: Obovate. Mature Leaf:            Palmatifid to palmatipartite.        -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of            dissection.—Leaves generally lobed, in 3 parts, each further            divided in 3 or more lobes. Lobes become more pronounced as            leaf ages.        -   Apex.—Young leaf: Rounded. Mature leaf: Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Attachment.—Base of the plant.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous to slightly tomentose.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Leaf internode length.—Very close to form a basal rosette.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A.            Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Mature            foliage upper side: Between RHS Yellow-Green 146A and 146B.            Mature foliage under side: Between RHS Yellow-Green 146B and            146C.        -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous; plunging into the limb at the            upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.            Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Venation            color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Petiole.—Appearance: Long, tubular, rigid. Slightly            flattened in older leaves. Length: Average range 13 to            17 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.3 to 0.4 cm. Pubescence:            Glossy, slightly tomentose. Color: Between RHS Yellow-Green            144A and 144B.-   Leaf at the nodes of the stems:    -   -   Arrangement.—Biternate.        -   Average length.—5 to 16 cm.        -   Average width.—4 to 13 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.        -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of            dissection.—Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which            is further divided in many deeply incised lobes.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Margin.—Entire to serrate near apex.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous to slightly tomentose.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Leaf internode length.—Average 5 to 15 cm.        -   Color.—Foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Foliage            under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.        -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging into the limb at the            upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.            Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation            color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.        -   Petiole.—Appearance: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length:            Average 2 to 7 cm. Diameter: Average 0.2 to 0.5 cm.            Pubescence: Glossy, slightly tomentose. Color: RHS            Yellow-Green 144B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Spring.-   Vase life (cut flower): 12 to 14 days.-   Flower longevity on plant: 5 to 7 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Closed bud.—Shape: Broadly ovate with a sharp point. Length:            1.2 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144C at            apex; 144D at base.        -   Slightly open bud.—Shape: Broadly ovate. Length: 1.4 cm.            Diameter: 1.5 cm. Color: Between RHS Yellow-Green 144B and            144C.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—6 cm.        -   Height.—4 cm.-   Corolla: Round, regular.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Semi-double; imbricated, disposed on the            receptacle in very tight verticils. Size of petals variable,            according to position, decreasing from exterior towards the            center.        -   Lobe length.—2.7 cm.        -   Lobe width.—2.2 cm.        -   Quantity.—Numerous, more than 50.        -   Texture.—Silky, thin, glossy.        -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.        -   Lobe shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Undulate.        -   Aspect.—Concave with moderately reflexed apex when fully            open.        -   Color when opening.—Upper surface: RHS Greyed-Orange N163C;            Yellow-Orange 17A at base. Lower surface: RHS Greyed-Orange            N163B; Yellow 7B at base.        -   Color fully opened.—Upper surface: Between RHS Yellow-Orange            21A and 23A; Yellow 9A at base. Lower surface: RHS Orange            25B; Yellow-Orange 15A at base; flushed with            Greyed-Orange169B from apex downwards.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5 which fall before flower matures.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—1.4 cm.        -   Width.—0.6 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Lower surface: Slightly tomentose. Upper surface:            Slightly tomentose.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C; Greyed-Orange            166C at edges and apex. Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green            N144D; Greyed-Orange 166B at edges and apex.-   Peduncle: None.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 3 to 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 0.2 to 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Between RHS Yellow-Green 144A and 144B.        -   Orientation.—Upright.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—Very numerous, short and completely surround the            gynoecium.        -   Anther shape.—Slightly curved.        -   Anther length.—Average 0.5 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 15A; fading to 12A.        -   Pollen.—Sparse.-   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the    center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.    -   -   Height.—1.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Domed, ovate.        -   Pistil color.—RHS Yellow-Green N144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Typical for the species. Powdery mildew, leaf    miner and rodent damage have all been observed in trials.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: More cold-hardy compared to    other Ranunculus cultivars.-   Fruit/seed production : Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plantnamed ‘ROCORANGE’ as herein illustrated and described.